[ChrisKten]

I've got flu ATM (*can hear violins*), so I'm not active in the forum or taking pictures of birds in the garden. But I was just looking at some Gull pics I took at the Reservoirs in December. I can't make my mind up about this one, first impression was Common Gull, then I thought Herring Gull, now I just can't decide.

Because the pictures were taken before Sunrise, there's very little colour, but legs aren't yellow or red. TBH, I'm not even sure both pics are of the same bird; but I do remember watching this bird for some time because I couldn't decide what it was.

The bird was distant, so it's a heavy crop. If you can ID it, I'd be very interested to know why it isn't the other species, what feature(s) rules out the other species?

Thanks.

[Wiktoria]

It's a Common Gull :)

Your gull has a smaller and thinner bill than Herring gull and other similar species (Yellow-legged, Caspian)

[gradders52]

Bill (not yellow, no red tip) and leg colour (bland) make it a common for me.
g

Aaahhh :–) get well soon
Oink?

[Cristian Mihai]

Common Gull indeed.

[ChrisKten]

Thanks all.

Just to confirm:

HG bill isn't yellow until sub-adult?

Lack of colour in these pictures makes Red Gonys spot impossible to confirm?

Leg colour difficult to colour from these pics (although yellow can be ruled out)?

Eye colour difficult to confirm from these pics?

So all that is clearly identifiable is the smaller bill?

[Cristian Mihai]

Originally Posted by ChrisKten

Thanks all.

Just to confirm:

HG bill isn't yellow until sub-adult?

Lack of colour in these pictures makes Red Gonys spot impossible to confirm?

Leg colour difficult to colour from these pics (although yellow can be ruled out)?

Eye colour difficult to confirm from these pics?

So all that is clearly identifiable is the smaller bill?

The structure (general shape) is not good for Herring and the bill is too thin/slender for Herring.

For comparison (shape and color of the bill at different ages) see:
http://www.gull-research.org/hg/HG3CY01.htm
http://www.gull-research.org/canus/commongull.htm